Ghost in the Shell

This article is about the manga and anime franchise. For other uses, see Ghost in the Shell (disambiguation).

Ghost in the Shell
Front cover of the Ghost in the Shell, volume one, second edition.
攻殻機動隊 (Kōkaku Kidōtai)
Genre	Science fiction, Cyberpunk
Manga
Written by	Masamune Shirow
Published by	Kodansha
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Young Magazine
Original run	1989 – 1997
Volumes	3
Anime film
Directed by	Mamoru Oshii
Written by	Kazunori Itō
Music by	Kenji Kawai
Studio	Production I.G
Released	November 18, 1995 (Japan) December 8, 1995 (United Kingdom) March 29, 1996 (United States)
Runtime	80 minutes
Anime and Manga Portal

Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊, Kōkaku Kidōtai^?, literally "Mobile Armored Riot Police") is a Japanese multimedia franchise composed of manga, animated films, anime series, video games and novels. It focuses on the activities of the counter-terrorist organization Public Security Section 9 in a futuristic, cyberpunk Japan (Hong Kong in the movie).

The first entry in the franchise was Shirow Masamune's Ghost in the Shell manga, first published in 1989 in Young Magazine. A sequel, Ghost in the Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface, was released in 2002, and a serialized manga, Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor, which contained material that was planned for but not included in the sequel, was released in 2003.

The manga series has been adapted into two anime films, Ghost in the Shell and Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence; two anime television series, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG; an OVA sequel of the TV series, Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society; and three video games: one PlayStation game, one PlayStation 2 game, and one PlayStation Portable game. The films and anime were produced by Production I.G.

Setting

Cyborg shell

Main articles: List of Ghost in the Shell characters and World of Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell is a futuristic police thriller dealing with the exploits of the cyborg Motoko Kusanagi, a member of a covert operations division of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission known as Section 9. The unit specializes in fighting technology-related crimes. Although supposedly equal to all other members, Kusanagi fills the leadership role in the team, and is usually referred to as "the Major" due to her past rank in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. She is capable of superhuman feats, and bionically specialized for her job — her body is almost completely mechanized; only her brain and a segment of her spinal cord remain organic.

The setting of Ghost in the Shell is cyberpunk or postcyberpunk, similar to that of William Gibson's Sprawl trilogy. Kusanagi and her colleagues face external threats and also suffer internal conflict over their own natures.

Media

Manga

Main articles: Ghost in the Shell (manga), Ghost in the Shell 2: Man/Machine Interface, and Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor

The first entry in the franchise was Shirow Masamune's Ghost in the Shell manga, first published in 1989 in Young Magazine. A sequel, Ghost in the Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface, was released in 2002, and a serialized manga, Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor, which contained material that was planned for but not included in the sequel, was released in 2003.

Films

Main articles: Ghost in the Shell (film) and Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

The manga was first adapted into a theatrical anime film adaptation in 1995, titled Ghost in the Shell, directed by Mamoru Oshii. The film was followed by a theatrical film sequel, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, produced in 2004, which was also directed by Oshii and places the character of Batou in the lead role. Both were based on storylines from the first manga. The original film was redone in 2008, updating the computer graphics and re-recording the sound in 6.1 surround sound, though some members of the cast had to be changed. The new version premiered on 12 July 2008 in Japan as "Ghost in the Shell 2.0".^[1]

^[2]

As of 2008, DreamWorks acquired the rights to produce a live-action film adaptation of the original manga with Steven Spielberg. Avi Arad and Steven Paul are confirmed producers; Jamie Moss was originally hired to adapt the manga into a screenplay^[3] but in October 2009 it was announced that Laeta Kalogridis had replaced Moss as writer.^[4]

TV series

Main articles: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG, and Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society

The series has been adapted into an anime series with a total of two seasons and one epilogue film. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex was written and directed by Kenji Kamiyama and produced by Production I.G, airing on Animax from 1 October 2002 to 25 March 2003 with a total of 26 episodes. The second season titled Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG was also written and directed by Kenji Kamiyama and produced by Production I.G. 2nd GIG aired on Animax from 1 January 2004 to 8 January 2005, with a total of 26 episodes.

A film called Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society, was created after the anime series and directed by Kenji Kamiyama, premiering on the SKY Perfect satellite television network on September 1, 2006. Solid State Society is a sequel to the TV anime series storyline, and so takes place in a separate continuity. It does not connect with either of Oshii's works. Solid State Society was later released in 3D on March 25, 2011.

Video games

Main articles: Ghost in the Shell (video game) and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (video game)

A PlayStation game was released in 1997, developed by Exact and published by THQ. A second game bearing the anime TV series title Stand Alone Complex was released in November 2004 on PlayStation 2, developed by SCEJ and Cavia and published by Bandai. A game of the same name developed by G-Artists and published by Bandai was released in 2005 for PlayStation Portable, but this is a sequel to the PlayStation 2 game, with a completely different storyline, setting, and gameplay.

Impact and influence

The Wachowskis, makers of The Matrix trilogy, have commented on the influence of the first Ghost in the Shell film, directed by Mamoru Oshii, on The Matrix.^[5] Producer Joel Silver also stated in an interview on The Animatrix DVD that he was shown the Ghost in the Shell movie during a pitch from the Wachowski brothers to indicate the style and look of the film they wanted for The Matrix.

Connections

Ghost in the Shell universe (21st fictional century) has light connection with Appleseed universe (22nd fictional century) (also created by Masamune Shirow). Seburo small arms manufacturer is presented in both universes; the first of bioroids (which are widely presented in Appleseed) had appeared in Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG.

References

1. ^ "Ghost in the Shell to Return to Japanese Theaters". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-06-08/ghost-in-the-shell-to-return-to-japanese-theaters. Retrieved November 9, 2011. 
2. ^ SFX.co.uk "Kalogridis to adapt 'Ghost in the Shell'". Variety.com. http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=ghost_in_the_live_action SFX.co.uk. Retrieved November 9, 2011. 
3. ^ "DreamWorks to make 'Ghost' in 3-D". Variety.com. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984029?refCatId=13. Retrieved November 9, 2011. 
4. ^ "Kalogridis to adapt 'Ghost in the Shell'". Variety.com. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010309?refCatId=13. Retrieved November 9, 2011. 
5. ^ WarnerVideo.com, Interview with the Wachowski Brothers, Warner Brothers Studios, Official Website.

External links

• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex official website (Japanese)
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex official English website
• Ghost in the Shell (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Ghost in the Shell (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Ghost in the Shell at Rotten Tomatoes